Oscars 2012: The Artist's Jean Dujardin apologises for using French swear word during acceptance speech

Jean Dujardin, who won the Best Actor award at the Oscars 2012 for his role in
The Artist, has confirmed that in his excitement he had used the French
equivalent of the "f-bomb" during his acceptance speech.

Accepting his Best Actor Oscar, Dujardin said: "Oui! I love your country. In 1929 it wasn't Billy Crystal but Douglas Fairbanks who hosted. Tickets cost five dollars and it lasted 50 minutes. Times have changed. So, thank you Douglas Fairbanks."

He then burst into French, invoking his character in The Artist, but appeared to use the word "merde", French for f*** or s***, as he again thanked the audience.

Later, when quizzed on whether he had sworn by reporters, Dujardin said: "Yeah, I'm sorry!"

The Artist triumphed at the Oscars 2012, becoming the first silent film in 83 years to earn the main award for best picture.

The French film also won best director and best actor, and was only prevented from a clean sweep of the major honours when Berenice Bejo lost out to Meryl Streep, for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, in the best actress category. Dujardin was the first French actor to be nominated for the Best Actor Oscar since Gerard Depardieu in 1990.

Related Articles

In total The Artist picked up five awards, also taking best musical score and art direction. Martin Scorsese's Paris adventure Hugo also won five Oscars, all in technical categories. Nominated British actors Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh and Janet McTeer all lost out.

Director Michel Hazanavicius said: "I am the happiest director in the world. Life is full of grace and it brings to us joy and happiness. Sometimes life is wonderful and today is one of those days."

The Artist was the first silent film to win best picture since Wings in 1929. Wings, starring Buddy Rogers and Clara Bow, was a tale about First world War fighter pilots made for a then enormous budget of $2 million.